Daily Dose of Hope

December 24, 2024

Day 3 of Week 39

Scripture:  Jeremiah 1-4; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 9

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  It’s Christmas Eve!  I’m hoping to see at least most of you tonight at one of our New Hope Christmas Eve services.  The family-oriented service is at 5pm and the traditional service with full choir is at 7pm. 

For our Old Testament Scripture today, we begin the book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was a major prophet that began his time of ministry in Judah under King Josiah.  If you recall, Josiah was a good king, determined to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  In many ways, this was a good time for Jeremiah to start his time of prophecy.  He was protected in so many ways.  That didn’t stop him from being a reluctant prophet.  Look at how many times he uses his youth as a reason for not responding to God’s call. 

We are all called by God to do something.  Maybe we haven’t been called to prophecy (or maybe we have), but I guarantee God has something in mind for you.  It may even be something hard.  What excuses have you used?  I’m too young, I’m too old, I’m too tired, I’m too busy, I’m too unprepared.  There are so many.  But if God calls, he will equip.  Eventually Jeremiah relents and begins his 40-year ministry as a prophet of God.

Let’s move into chapters 2 and 3.  Keep in mind that God often refers to Judah and Jerusalem as Israel in the book of Jeremiah, though the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians roughly 100 years before Jeremiah’s work as a prophet. God refers to Judah and Jerusalem as representing all of Israel because by this time, it did.  Through Jeremiah, God recalls the past relationship he had with Israel, which is now dissolving.  He is horribly upset by Israel’s sin and idolatry.  In chapter 3, you will see how Israel is compared to a prostitute, as she gives herself to many gods. 

In chapter 4, we read about a call to repentance.  Will God’s people change their ways?  The rest of the chapter details the destruction that will occur if they do not.  More on that tomorrow.

Psalm 130 is another psalm of ascent, which the Jewish pilgrims sang as they made their way into Jerusalem for the various required festivals.  It’s a beautiful psalm, promising the hope and redemption that comes with walking closely to the Lord.

Our New Testament passage is 2 Corinthians 9. In this chapter, Paul is continuing his discussion on giving. Paul is trying to rouse some enthusiasm amongst the Corinthian believers on the topic of giving, specifically giving to the destitute believers in Jerusalem. They were initially very interested and enthusiastic but apparently, they haven't followed through on their commitments.

Today’s chapter leads to some interesting thoughts. You reap what you sow, not just with material resources but also in other ways. This idea is found throughout Scripture but most notably in Jesus' teaching in Luke 6:38, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

But it also suggests that giving is an individual decision of the heart. We don't give for public recognition but to please God and demonstrate his love to others. God doesn't want us to give out of a sense of obligation but truly out of a kind and generous heart. All we have comes from God, we are simply giving a portion back to God's work in this world. Finally, Paul is suggesting that when we give to God's work, we will be blessed. God will ensure that our needs are met. Notice Paul doesn't say that our wants will be fulfilled but rather our needs. We will have what we need to be content. What does it take for you to be content? Do you give with a cheerful heart?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

Daily Dose of Hope

December 23, 2024

Day 2 of Week 39

Scripture:  Zephaniah 1-3; Psalm 74; 2 Corinthians 8

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  Happy Monday!  Just a reminder that at New Hope, we will have two wonderful Christmas Eve services tomorrow night.  The 5pm service is family-oriented (think glowsticks and balloons) and the 7pm service is traditional with full choir.  Looking forward to seeing you!

Our Old Testament passage for today is Zephaniah 1-3. Zephaniah was a minor prophet who lived in Judah and was a contemporary of King Josiah.  This would have put him in the final decades of the Southern Kingdom, when King Josiah implemented spiritual reforms and there was a true revival for a time.  And yet the prophecy is of Judah’s destruction.  A theme that runs through the book is “the day of the Lord’s judgement.”  A period of obedience under Josiah does not mean that God will not still hold Judah accountable for their generations of evil. 

Our New Testament passage is 2 Corinthians 8. There is significant need among the believers in Jerusalem and Paul is imploring the churches in Macedonia and Greece to give, not out of obligation but truly out of love for their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Those in Jerusalem were Jewish believers who the Gentile Corinthians had never met. This offering would not have been part of a tithe, but rather over and beyond their normal giving, in order to help those who needed it. While the Macedonian churches were located in a fairly wealthy and prosperous area, that doesn't mean all the churches were affluent. There were some among them who were wealthy but many more were just working class or poor. And yet, Paul is calling them to give anyway.

He has called all the Macedonian churches to give; this includes Corinth but also Philippi and Thessalonica. He is asking the Corinthians church to finish up their previous collection, keeping in mind the extreme need in Jerusalem. This is not a command, by any means, but rather encouragement to do what is right.

Giving does not come naturally to human beings. We seem to have this need to keep things for ourselves. We tend toward selfishness over sacrifice. Generosity is something that God nurtures in our hearts. Jesus taught often about being generous. Think about Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The beauty in the Scripture is that it demonstrates that when we invest in the things of God, our heart will be pulled in that direction as well.  We start by giving sacrificially and God changes our heart.

What’s been your experience with giving? Do you tithe? If you don’t, then what keeps you from giving on that level? Have you ever given above and beyond the tithe, as Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to do? What motivated that giving?  How has God blessed your giving?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 22, 2024

Day 1 of Week 39

Scripture:  Habakkuk 1-3; 2 Corinthians 7

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. 

Today, we start the book of Habakkuk.  Habakkuk was one of the minor prophets, living in the 600s BC, and prophesying around 605 BC. Habakkuk prophesied about the Babylonians and the destruction of Jerusalem, which puts him in the time period where the Babylonians had become a conquering nation but had not yet endangered Judah.

The book of Habakkuk mainly addresses questions about why God allows injustice. Unlike other prophets that were sent to prophesy against Israel, Judah, or other nations, the book of Habakkuk records a conversation between Habakkuk and God. From this, we see an interesting picture of God dialoguing with a follower who has questions. By reading Habakkuk, we also find answers. 

For instance, in Habakkuk 1:1-4, the prophet says, How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. 

Habakkuk is distressed over the evil in Judah and God tells him that there will be retribution when Babylon conquers Judah.  This horrifies Habakkuk even more because in his mind the people of Judah are still significantly better than the people of Babylon.  But God assures Habakkuk that Babylon will eventually be punished as well.  This pleases Habakkuk and he praises God. 

Our New Testament passage for today is 2 Corinthians 7.  Paul continues to express his love and dedication to the Corinthians. Despite their disobedience and their lack of confidence in him, Paul has confidence and love for them. In fact, Paul says that he would live or die with them. He is making the point that their relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ will not end with physical death. They are united for eternity. This means something!

Have you ever considered that you are united with your fellow believers for eternity? This usually brings me great joy. I've met Christians all over the world who I know I won't ever meet again in this earthly life. But yet, we will be together in heaven forever. At the same time, there are believers who I know with whom I've never quite gotten along. Guess what? I also will spend eternity with them. Our bonds as Christian brothers and sisters are strong, friends. Is there a Christian brother or sister with whom you have disagreed and you need to make amends? Our allegiance to Jesus should always trump our individual disagreements. I'm not saying to be a doormat. However, think about the disagreement, pray about it, and see how God wants you to proceed.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 19, 2024

Day 5 of Week 38

Scripture:  2 Chronicles 34-35; 2 Corinthians 6

Welcome the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.

Our Old Testament text is 2 Chronicles.  This is basically the same story that we heard yesterday about King Josiah.  King Josiah came to the throne at age eight.  There was something about him that led to Josiah knowing right from wrong.  Even with poor parenting, this young man knew to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  He instituted reforms that brought Judah back to where it should be.  He destroyed the idols and the pagan altars and he made sure that they were once again familiar with and following the law. 

Despite this, God did not spare them.  By this point, things had gone too far.  The leaders and people of Judah had been given so many chances.  What God promised to Josiah was that the destruction of Judah would not happen during his lifetime. But it would happen.  There had been so many warnings and so many chances.  There had to be consequences.

The New Testament passage for today is 2 Corinthians 6.  Paul wants the Corinthians to know that there are boundaries surrounding the behaviors of the covenant community. As we have discussed in previous chapters, most of Corinth consisted of individuals who worshipped multiple gods; idolatry and sexual immorality were a part of the pagan existence. Now, people are coming to know Jesus and entering the Corinthian church.  This requires a huge shift in thinking about what is acceptable. Paul continues to teach that while they have freedom in Christ, that is not an excuse for behavior that displeases God. They are called to holiness.

It is from that place that Paul tells the Corinthian believers not to be yoked with unbelievers. A yoke refers to the wooden crosspiece that was fastened over the necks of two oxen and attached to a plow or cart that they are to pull. When one animal is yoked to another, generally the stronger animal can help make up for the inadequacies of the weaker animal. Think about Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30,“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” When we are yoked together with Jesus, he helps lighten our load and provides rest for our souls.

But Paul is saying NOT to be yoked with those who are not Christ-followers. As in the reference from Matthew, being yoked with someone suggests a close, almost intimate relationship. Do not yoke yourself with someone whose values, attitudes, and behaviors are fundamentally different from your own. Paul is referencing marriage but also other relationships. Do not bind yourself to people who have a worldview that is opposed to your own.

I want to be clear; Paul is not saying that Christians aren't to associate with unbelievers.  Frequently, Paul encourages believers to eat with those who don't yet believe and build relationships with those who need to know the hope of Christ. But having an unbelieving friend or acquaintance is totally different from an unbelieving spouse, business partner, or bestie. Set your boundaries.

Blessings,

Daily Dose of Hope

December 18, 2024

Day 4 of Week 38

Scripture:  2 Kings 22-23; Psalm 73; 2 Corinthians 5

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Let’s get right into our Scripture for today!

We begin in 2 Kings 22-23.  In chapter 22, we meet King Josiah. To say Josiah was the product of a dysfunctional family would be a gross understatement. His grandfather was evil and his father was evil. They worshiped other gods; they did everything wrong in the eyes of Yahweh. His father was so disliked that his own servants end up assassinating him. I can only imagine how terrible it was to live in the palace at the time. Josiah comes to the throne at age eight.

Today’s Scripture says that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. I can’t help but wonder how Josiah knew to follow Yahweh. We really don’t know many details about his life. But somehow, someway, Josiah knew right from wrong and chose to do right. At age eighteen, he starts to rebuild the temple (which had fallen into disrepair after so many sinful kings), and the Book of the Law is discovered. Josiah tears his clothing, a sign of grief and sorrow, when he hears the words of the law read aloud and realizes just how far the nation of Judah had drifted from God’s standard.

A couple things jump out at me after reading today’s text. First, just because someone’s family is dysfunctional, abusive, evil, or lost, doesn’t mean they are doomed to the same fate. Josiah’s family history was atrocious but he didn’t fall into the same pattern as his father and grandfather. We serve a God who redeems people, rescues, provides freedom and a path for true transformation. Maybe you grew up in a really messy family situation; that does not define you! Who you are in Jesus Christ is what truly defines you. Partnering with God, your legacy can be different from your past. There is always hope, always room for redemption.

One other reflection from this text is that the Word of God read aloud has power. When Josiah heard the Book of the Law read for the first time, he was forever changed. He was repentant. He was convicted. His heart was transformed and he had the desire to serve God and lead others to do the same. Never discount the power of God’s Word.

In chapter 23, it becomes evident just how prevalent and extensive the worship of other gods had become in Judah. There were altars to other gods throughout the land, in people’s homes, and even in the temple of the Lord! After generations of sinful kings, idolatry had become a regular part of their culture. Josiah cleans everything up. He destroys the high places, he gets rid of every form of pagan worship, including temple prostitutes, pagan priests, and all those horrible altars.

While Josiah was faithful and did all he could to renew the covenant with God, it simply wasn’t enough. Despite repeated warnings, the kings and people of Judah had failed to uphold the covenant. They had disobeyed God over and over again. Josiah’s best efforts couldn’t make up for the hundreds of years of sin. God honored Josiah’s faithfulness, however, and ensured that he would not see the destruction to come. We see Josiah killed in this chapter. I don’t know about you but I immediately got a sense of foreboding, knowing that things are about to get really bad for Judah. The scene has been set and we are about the watch it play out.

Our New Testament reading is 2 Corinthians 5. The first ten verses of this chapter are worth reading and reflecting on if you didn't have the opportunity to do so. Paul is tackling the difficult topic of what happens to us when we die. In Paul's culture (as in ours), there was fascination but also fear regarding the end of physical life. This piece of Scripture discusses the future resurrection and transformation of believers and the certainty of being with Jesus after death. We can be assured of this based on God placing the Spirit within us (Paul calls it a deposit). The Holy Spirit offers us assurance of salvation and that this earthly life is not the end.

Now, let's take a moment and talk about verse 17, one of my favorite verses of Scripture. Paul starts with the statement, "Therefore..." because the previous statement pointed out that Christ is no longer viewed from a human perspective, as he is God. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and his life, death, and resurrection form this radical, fundamental breakthrough for all creation. Because of this, things are different. God's Kingdom has been inaugurated and a new way of doing life is here. So, if someone is in Christ, meaning they have accepted Jesus and are united with a life-giving Savior, then this new way of living and being has started. They are no longer the same person. They are being transformed from the inside out by the power of the Spirit of God. The old person, the "pre-Jesus" life, is in the past. They now do life differently - new attitudes, new behaviors, new ways of thinking-focused on the ways of Jesus rather than the ways of the world

I want to add that becoming a new person is a choice. Others call it a process. It's both really. Becoming the person that God created us to be in Jesus Christ is not going to simply happen by accident. We participate in the process. The Holy Spirit works in us and we cooperate with God in the transformation. What has your "becoming a new creation" process looked like? None of us have arrived either. What are the places in your life in which God may be still calling you to change to look more like Jesus?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 17, 2024

Day 3 of Week 38

Scripture:  Nahum 1-3; Psalm 149; 2 Corinthians 4

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. 

Today, we start the book of Nahum.  Nahum was another minor prophet and his book is a collection of poems and writings that announce the destruction of Judah’s enemy, Assyria, and its capital city of Ninevah.  Keep in mind, it was the Assyrian empire that conquered the northern Kingdom, Israel, and they were well-known for their brutality.  But while Assyria is called out explicitly in this small book, there is really a bigger message and that is that God will not allow violent and brutal empires to last.  Ninevah and Assyria are simply an example in this book.  We know that there have and will continue to be horrible governments around the world.  God will, in fact, have the last word.  When I think about some of the horrors occurring around our world today in places like Russia and North Korea, I get some sense of peace.  God is going to take care of things.

Let’s move on to the New Testament.  Our scripture for today is 2 Corinthians 4.  Jars of clay would have been a fairly normal sight in Paul's day. They were basic, earthenware vessels, used for everything from cooking utensils to toilets. They were inexpensive but breakable, and could easily be knocked over and damaged.

Paul is saying that the Gospel is an amazing treasure. And we, as Christ-followers, get to be the vessels that hold the Good News of Jesus. God chooses to store his greatest treasure in our own weak and flawed human bodies. They aren't too unlike the clay jars, common and fragile. Yet, God chooses us. In all our brokenness, God chooses us. In the mess of the world, God chooses us. In the midst of hardship and oppression, God still chooses us. We get to be the bearers of the greatest news in the history of all humanity. God chooses us. Just let that sink in a bit.

Today’s devotional is pretty short.  Take a moment and use this extra time to catch up on your reading if you need to.  It’s getting close to Christmas.  If you have a few spare moments, I would also encourage you to read Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2.  I promise you will be blessed.

Let’s chat tomorrow,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 16, 2024

Day 2 of Week 38

Scripture: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; Psalm 71; 2 Corinthians 3

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  Let's get into our Scripture for today.

Today, we will cover 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33 together because they span basically the same period in Judah’s history.  What’s interesting to me is a slightly different perspective in the chapters  The author of 2 Kings shares about Manasseh’s evil.  And it sounds like he was really, really bad – worshiping other gods, putting altars to other gods in the temple in Jerusalem, shedding innocent blood, sacrificing human beings, I mean the list goes on and on. Pure evil.

But the chronicler gives us more information (2 Chronicles 33).  At one point, God’s anger led him to allow Manasseh to be taken by the Assyrians into Babylon and he was treated like an animal.  It was at that point that Manasseh cries out to the one true God and God hears his cries.  God, in his mercy, allows him to return to Jerusalem and gave him back the kingdom.  It was at that time that Manasseh really changed his ways.  He no longer worshiped other gods but only the one true God.  He removed the desecration in the temple and restored the proper altar.  He appears, at least according to the chronicler, to be a changed man.  This seems like such a significant life transformation that one wonders why the author of 2 Kings did not mention it.  What are your guesses?  I would like to hear your feedback on this.  Why do you think the perspectives are so very different?

In both these chapters, we also learn about Amon, Manasseh’s son.  He is evil through and through, learning from his father’s earlier days, I'm sure.  I wonder how much parenting actually went on between a king and his son.  It seems that good kings had bad kids and bad kings sometimes had good kids.  With so many wives and concubines, I can’t help but think most of the parenting was done by the mothers and probably hired help.  These women were usually pagans, and they are the ones that had a huge influence on these kids.  The situation was far from ideal.  The fate of the nation really fell to men who were often parented by pagans and probably given everything they wanted.  Y’all, leadership really matters.

Take a moment to read through Psalm 70.  It’s short.  It’s a psalm of David.  He is once again being pursued by his enemies and he cries out to the Lord.  He is faithful and knows God will save him but he wants it to happen sooner rather than later.  He is desperate.  How many of us can relate to David today?

Our New Testament reading is 2 Corinthians 3.  This is an interesting chapter. In the beginning of the chapter, Paul is explaining why he doesn't need letters of recommendation. Apparently, this was a common practice to provide letters that verified the authenticity of an apostle or leader. Paul mentions providing them in some of his other epistles but does not feel the need to have them for the church at Corinth. After all, he founded the Corinthian church so they should be well aware of his gifts and skills as an apostle. This whole discussion gives us a bigger picture of what Paul is dealing with-people are challenging his credentials and leadership. This must have been very distressing for Paul, who put so much love and self-sacrifice into his churches.

Paul then moves on to a discussion about boldness and spiritual blindness. He can be bold because there is no veil separating him from God. Remember, Moses had to pull a veil over his face when he went to speak with God to protect himself and the Israelites from God's powerful glory. It also reminds me of another veil-the curtain that separated the priest from the holiest of holies in the temple, where God's presence dwelt. Under the Old Covenant, there were many veils which served to protect people from God's power and glory. While it was for their protection, it was also a physical and spiritual separation.

Paul makes the point that even then, while the veil was technically gone, the Jews still behaved as if it was there; they experienced a spiritual blindness of sorts. But in Christ, there is freedom. There doesn’t have to be separation from God or blind adherence to the Old Covenant. Christ introduced a new way of doing life, where the veil is gone, and we can now contemplate God's glory. In fact, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can day by day be transformed into his likeness.

Verse 18 really resonates with me today. "...we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory..." This is sanctification. The more we grow in our walk with Jesus, the more we experience his grace and look more and more like him.

A question: do you look more like Jesus today than you did five years ago? Why or why not? What do you want to look like five years from now?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 15, 2024

Day 1 of Week 38

Scripture: Isaiah 64-66; 2 Corinthians 2

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  We have two milestone moments today – we are finishing the book of Isaiah AND we are beginning our 38th week reading the Bible in a year.  If you have made it this far, you have come a long way!

Let’s start with Isaiah.  In chapter 64, we get a picture of how faithful and merciful God is to his people.  But they have turned from him.  In fact, the Scripture seems to indicate that they have made God their enemy.  And yet, God’s love for his creation doesn’t stop. 

Many of us are familiar with Isaiah 64:8, Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.  The people were far from God.  They were outright rejecting him.  But that didn’t mean that God wasn’t their creator.  Just because someone says no to the Lord doesn’t mean he isn’t real and at work in the world.  We are but mere humans.  We truly don’t know what we don’t know.  Yet God knows all.  He can take a lump of clay and form it into anything.  He formed us and he loves us, even when we run away from that love.

Isaiah 65 is beautiful in many ways.  It describes the world that way God intends it to be, the way it will eventually be when Jesus returns.  There will be no more suffering or injustice, but God’s presence will ensure joy and abundance.  All things will be made new.  There will be a new heaven and a new earth.  All the destruction and sin of our current broken world will be a thing of the past. And then in chapter 66, there is this proper conclusion – God will ensure justice is done to his enemies and restore his people once and for all.

I would love your thoughts on Isaiah.  I know it is a long, somewhat arduous book.  At the same time, there is incredible substance here if we are willing to wade through it.  Let me know what your big takeaways were from the book of Isaiah.

Our New Testament reading was 2 Corinthians 2. Paul could not visit the Corinthians because he was forced to make an emergency trip to Ephesus. He sent his previous letter instead. This created discord within the church. Not only were they upset with the tone of the letter but they were upset that Timothy rather than Paul delivered it. As mentioned yesterday, certain individuals had risen up to challenge Paul because of this.

Paul has an interesting response to their challenge. Rather than getting angry, as many of us might, he wants to assure them of his deep love for them and their dependence on one another. He isn't the kind of leader who lords authority over them. (Reread 1:23-24) Rather, they belong to each other. He is their coworker in the movement of the Gospel.

Are you aware that as the body of Jesus Christ, we all belong to God but we also belong to each other? Our work in the Lord is dependent on one another. We need one another. We are not independent contractors for Jesus out there on our own trying to share the Good News. Rather, we are all in this together, helping and supporting each other, praying for one another, and encouraging each other in our work.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 12, 2024

Day 5 of Week 37

Scripture:  Isaiah 60-63; 2 Corinthians 1

Welcome back to all of you.  This is the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. 

Let’s get into our Scripture for today. Isaiah 60 paints a beautiful picture of the restoration of Jerusalem.  The city has moved from darkness to glory.  This is a great metaphor for the transformation that occurs to anyone who turns from darkness toward the light of God. 

Then, in chapter 61, Isaiah prophesies about God’s mission of making things right.  It’s exquisite really – Good News offered to the poor, the blind gaining sight, the prisoners being set free.  And if the beginning of this chapter sounds familiar to you, that’s because Jesus quotes it in Luke 4:16-21. This is early in Jesus’ ministry, as he begins to reveal this mission,

When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.  The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him.  He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down.  All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently.  Then he began to speak to them.  “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day.” 

And maybe you recall that when Jesus says this, he shocks the audience with his words.  For what Jesus is saying here is, “Guess what, guys?  I am the long-expected redeemer.  I am the one who came to fulfill the mission of God.  I am the one who God sent to fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah.  God sent me!”  Jesus is the answer to God’s plan of redemption for the whole world.  In his compassion, God always had a plan.

We read more about God’s overwhelming compassion in Isaiah chapters 62-63              .  Despite the sins of the people, despite the broken covenant, and the totally mess they created, God created a way for things to be made right.

Let’s move on to the New Testament.  Now we have come to Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth. Apparently, other leaders have risen up to oppose Paul and he is quite distressed. In his first letter, Paul provides a strong rebuke of the Corinthians about their worldly aspirations, their arrogance, and their shallow view of Christian leadership. This didn't serve to endear Paul to the influencers in the Corinthian church.

In this second letter, Paul is attempting to restore his relationship with the church while also offering them wise counsel and not back down from previous statements. In today’s Scripture, Paul is reminding the Corinthians of God's faithful promises. God has anointed us and put his seal on us. From antiquity to present times, a seal indicates ownership. Our bodies are not our own but belong to God. And God has put his Holy Spirit within our hearts as a deposit, or a guarantee, of what is to come. The promise is that we will be with Jesus at the resurrection and that we will continue to be made into his likeness in the meantime.

How do we know that the Holy Spirit is living within us? How do we know that we belong to God? Think back to your own childhood. How did you know that you belonged to your earthly parents? Besides having the same name, there is an awareness and even a confidence that they are your parents and you are their child. This is obviously an imperfect example because while some earthly parents are responsible, protective, and loving, others are not. But we can know that God our Father is faithful, trustworthy, protective, and loving.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 11, 2024

Day 4 of Week 37

Scripture:  Isaiah 56-59; Psalm 70; 1 Corinthians 16

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  It’s Wednesday again so that means Recharge.  I hope to see you tonight at 6:30pm in the Garage for fellowship, prayer, worship, and small community.  For those who might feel led to participate, I attend a prayer time led by Pastor Lavetta.  We have a small group of people who meet and pray for the church, our church family, our community, and our world.  It is powerful and I would love to have you join us tonight.

It's hard to believe but we are coming to the end of Isaiah.  We aren’t there yet, but we are getting closer.  Today, we cover chapters 56-59.  In chapter 56, we see things turn a bit.  The emphasis is now on God’s expansive love for all people.  The leaders are impressed with identity and status, but God’s salvation extends to all people.  We begin to see this focus on justice as well.  As we read through the other chapters, Isaiah reminds us to live a life of mercy and righteousness toward our fellow humans.  Mere religious observance means nothing to God if we oppress the poor and mistreat others.

In chapter 59, the prophet reiterates that no matter how far we are from God, his redemption is available to us.  We may sin and run away but he is constantly seeking us out.  And there is more messianic prophecy of one who is to come who will offer an everlasting covenant of peace and justice. 

Our New Testament passage is I Corinthians 16.  This is the final chapter of Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth. For the most part, he gives practical advice and wisdom. He speaks of taking up a collection for the greater church and of welcoming Christian workers who will be coming to their area soon.

It's right after this call to welcome and respect the new leaders that Paul makes this statement, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." I think we would do well to also heed this advice. This idea of being on guard or being alert seems to suggest that we are in a battle not just with earthly powers but also against the power of evil. There are forces in this world that work against Jesus Christ and as his followers, the Corinthians (and us for that matter) should be aware, alert, and on guard. Stand firm in the faith is also pertinent.

How easy it was for the Corinthians to drift and get distracted. Umm...sound familiar? Remember whose and who you are might be another way to say it; stay focused on the things of God! Then, there is a call to be courageous and strong. We know from the previous chapters that the Corinthians were arrogant and a bit complacent. Paul is asking them to have courage and do what God has called them to do.

Again, I'm thinking Paul could just as easily be talking to the modern church. We have tradition, we have beautiful worship, we have access to all kinds of knowledge, but we don't have courage. This is starting to get personal. Might I add that this kind of strength has nothing to do with physical stamina and the ability to lift heavy weights. This is an internal strength that comes only from God.

Finally, Paul says to do everything in love. Yes, being on guard, standing firm, and having courage and strength are critical but they are all pointless if not done with love. Paul is not calling the Corinthians to use aggression or self-assertion (remember, this is how the Corinthian church viewed Christian leadership). Rather, Paul is saying to exhibit all these qualities while demonstrating the love and grace of Jesus. That means, no bullying people to Jesus, no shaming people to Jesus, no manipulating people to Jesus, but only loving people to Jesus.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki